Carlton Searching For A Ruckman
The ruck was not a position of strength for Carlton even when they had Big Barnaby, but French has retired and they will also lose his 16 hitouts per game. They didn't trade for a ruckman, they have no young player to step up from their VFL team, so where they find a ruckman is something to watch.
They have Dylan McLaren, Chris Bryan, Adrian Deluca and Ian Prendergast on their list. Prendergast might be delisted, Deluca plays like a medium-sized forward, Bryan doesn't get played and McLaren isn't very effective as a starting ruckman. None of them shine in the ruck, Prendergast is way too small and the other three play better as a forward option. McLaren kicked 6 goals in a single VFL game this past season. Bryan has the big boot and has also shown some contested-marking ability in the forward line.
Setanta O'hAilpin could also get a run in the ruck in 2007. Some at Carlton want to see if they can develop him into a ruckman. It might work, eventually. But he is also their big hope as a tall defender, and that is the spot where he is most suited to.
Carlton also have Aisake O'hAilpin and Daniel Batson on their rookie list. They have height and potential but are often in the VFL Reserves, so no immediate help. Aisake O'hAilpin has shown he can play the game, but not yet in the ruck.
The Blues have pick 1 in the draft, while all the talk is Gibbs they must be also considering Leuenberger. At 203cm he would be taller than anyone else on their current list. Carlton still have other picks to use on a ruckman, you would expect one of the picks at 17 and 19 to be used on a ruck prospect. But if it is pick 1 or pick 51 that they take a ruckman it will still be a wait of several years as the player won't be ready right away.
That does leave the preseason draft. They went with an ex-Brisbane ruckman last time, Dylan McLaren, and they could do that again. Clark Keating could give them a year or two, Beau McDonald has a bit more left in the tank than Keating and might be a better option. Other possibilities could emerge as AFL teams delist players. Players in other leagues could also go in this draft. Daniel Bandy is still playing, in the WAFL, but does not fit with their youth policy. In the VFL, there is Eames at Frankston who is a big boy, and has plenty of years of football ahead of him.
Maybe Carlton go a lot of the year without a ruckman on the oval. Koutoufides, Whitnall, Fisher or Waite could play on the ball, using their ability to get forward to cause problems for opposition ruckmen. They might lose the hitouts in this situation, but Carlton might also struggle in that stat anyway with Deluca or McLaren.
Carlton does have a rucking problem and no solution yet. You know they have to do something when Eddie Betts is tied for 9th on the team in hitouts.
Hitout stats per game, from 2006, for Carlton's ruckmen returning in 2007:
Dylan McLaren 7.7
Chris Bryan 6.6
Adrian Deluca 3.6
Ian Prendergast 2.7
They have Dylan McLaren, Chris Bryan, Adrian Deluca and Ian Prendergast on their list. Prendergast might be delisted, Deluca plays like a medium-sized forward, Bryan doesn't get played and McLaren isn't very effective as a starting ruckman. None of them shine in the ruck, Prendergast is way too small and the other three play better as a forward option. McLaren kicked 6 goals in a single VFL game this past season. Bryan has the big boot and has also shown some contested-marking ability in the forward line.
Setanta O'hAilpin could also get a run in the ruck in 2007. Some at Carlton want to see if they can develop him into a ruckman. It might work, eventually. But he is also their big hope as a tall defender, and that is the spot where he is most suited to.
Carlton also have Aisake O'hAilpin and Daniel Batson on their rookie list. They have height and potential but are often in the VFL Reserves, so no immediate help. Aisake O'hAilpin has shown he can play the game, but not yet in the ruck.
The Blues have pick 1 in the draft, while all the talk is Gibbs they must be also considering Leuenberger. At 203cm he would be taller than anyone else on their current list. Carlton still have other picks to use on a ruckman, you would expect one of the picks at 17 and 19 to be used on a ruck prospect. But if it is pick 1 or pick 51 that they take a ruckman it will still be a wait of several years as the player won't be ready right away.
That does leave the preseason draft. They went with an ex-Brisbane ruckman last time, Dylan McLaren, and they could do that again. Clark Keating could give them a year or two, Beau McDonald has a bit more left in the tank than Keating and might be a better option. Other possibilities could emerge as AFL teams delist players. Players in other leagues could also go in this draft. Daniel Bandy is still playing, in the WAFL, but does not fit with their youth policy. In the VFL, there is Eames at Frankston who is a big boy, and has plenty of years of football ahead of him.
Maybe Carlton go a lot of the year without a ruckman on the oval. Koutoufides, Whitnall, Fisher or Waite could play on the ball, using their ability to get forward to cause problems for opposition ruckmen. They might lose the hitouts in this situation, but Carlton might also struggle in that stat anyway with Deluca or McLaren.
Carlton does have a rucking problem and no solution yet. You know they have to do something when Eddie Betts is tied for 9th on the team in hitouts.
Hitout stats per game, from 2006, for Carlton's ruckmen returning in 2007:
Dylan McLaren 7.7
Chris Bryan 6.6
Adrian Deluca 3.6
Ian Prendergast 2.7
